Folding table



Oct. 4,1927.

H. HowE fix- 11-7- y lax/WMM v3 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED sTATEs HAROLD HOWE, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING TABLE.

Appncauon mea october 1e, 1924. serm m. 7,411,864.

The present invention relates to folding tables and is more particularlydirected to an improved card table. It is to be understood, however,that the invention ma be 5 otherwise applied, as for example, to anquettables, swinging tables or the like. j

Tables of the type to which the present 1nvention particularly# relatesare generally provided with a rectangular wooden frame which supportsthe table top and'from which the folding legs are carried. As lightnessof weight and compactness of folding are de-v sirable features in thistype of table it 1s important that they be constructed of small butsubstantial parts. According to the usual construction the legs of suchtables are pivoted directly to a wood top, pieces of wood attached totop, or to the wooden frame. This arrangement results ina comparativelyWeak table which is likely to loosen in use and become unsteady. Suchtables must be handled very carefully, kfor they are easily broken. t i

rlhe present invention on the other hand contemplates a table whereinthe strains are practically all taken up by metal parts and wherein thewooden parts are attached to the metal parts in a secure manner toreduce and I practically eliminatethe liability of breakage or looseningof the parts.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of all metal unitswhich may be assembled together independently of the wooden parts of thetableand then attached in the corners of the table frame to carry thelegs so that they may be folded underneath the table or moved to aposition to support the table.

Another object of. the invention is to'pro- 40 vide all metal units ofthe type above referred to which may be interchangeably attached in thevarious corners and yet stagger or olf-set the legs so that they willfold alongside one another, or along the sides of the table.

Another object of the present invention is to provide atable leg andsupport with bracing means so disposed that the entire strain taken upby the bracing` means is assumed by metal parts, irrespective of whetherthe brace is under tensionv or compression, thereby relieving the woodenarts of excessive strains. Another object o the present-invention is toprovide a folding table wherein the heavy strains are assumed by metalparts so that lighter and less expensive wooden frame part-s may beemployed. t

In the accompanyingdrawings several of the many possible embodiments ofthe present invention are shown for pur oses of 1llustration, itbeingunderstood t at the in vention may be embodied in various forms.

In these drawings: l

Fig. 1 is an .inverted plan view of a folding table made in accordancewith the present invention and showing two of the legs folded and two ofthe legs opened;

Fig. 2 is a section Vtaken on vline 2--2 of Fig. 1 in the directionofthe arrows, and showing the legs folded;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking` in thedirection of the arrows and showing the legs opened;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, showing a slihtly modled form of attaching device for t e leg; i

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of a modied form of folding made inaccordance with the present invention, and showing two of the '.egsfolded and two of the legs opened;

Fig 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 looking in thedirection of the arrows, showing the .legs opened;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7`7 of Fig. 5 looking in thedirection of the arrows, showing the legs folded;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on the lines 8-9 respectively, fof Fig. 5,taken in the direction of the arrows and showing the le opened;

Fig. 10 is a view simi-lar to Flg. 6 illustrating` a modified form ofbrace; and

Fig. 11 is an inverted plan view of another modified form ofconstruction.

Referring to' the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2and 3 itwill a pear that the tabletop 10 which'may 'be o any suitable material,for example, multiple-ply veneer covered with cloth, if desired,isattached to a rectangular under-frame 11 composed, as here vshown offour wooden strips 100 12, 13, 14 .and 15. Metal corner members 16, 17,18 and 19 are attached in the corners of the wooden under-frame and each'of these members pivotally supports a. leg of metal or wood. These legsare arranged in As here shown these corner members are each made vout ofa metal strip bent to U- shaped form, with one side 20 referably longerkthan the other side 211 e sides 20-21 and the bottom 22 of the U areprovided with pairs' of boltv holes 23 and 24 adapted to receive pairsof bolts 25 and 26. The bolts pass through the twd adjacent strips ofthe under-frame which go to make up the corner into which the cornermember mounted. The spacing of` the pair of holes in the three parts ofthe U-shaped corner member is preferably th'e same so that the cornermember may be mounted with either .the shorter or the longer sideadjacent the wooden under-frame as will appear from the method in which.the pairs 16-17 and 18-19 respectively of the corner members are mountedin the corners of the under-frame- Hence these members may be mounted inany desired position in the under-frame. By making these corner membersso that they are interchangeable in this manner the manufacturingexpense'isdecreased materially. These corner members not only reinforceand hold together the under-frame but, according to the presentinvention, provide pivotal mountings for the swinging legs.

- The form of leg-mountin shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive includes T-thaped leg straps 27 and 28 which extend for a substantial distancealong the inner sides of legs 16 and 17. The legs and leg straps areattached together b bolts or screws 29. The free ends 30 an 31 of theT-shaped leg straps are bent at right angles, as shown in r the lower-part of Flg. 1, and are litted in between the sides 20 and 21 of thecorner 'members A rod 32 is passed through "the holes in the sides 20and 21 and the bentI ends 30 and 31 so that the leg strap may` pivotrelative to the corner member. The ends of the rod 32 may be upsetslightly to prevent the rod from sliding out of place, or the rod may beheldin the corner by any other convenient means. The le may ivot onthe'rod, or the rod wit strap attac ed may. turn inthe corner member.The rtions of the leg straps which are attached to the legs arepreferably oppositel off-centered relative to the sides of the US-lshape corner member, so that the legs of the pair, when folded, may liealongside one another as illustrated in the upperpart of Fig; 1. l

he lower ends of the leg straps, where the are attached to the legs arehere shown as ing provided with lateral extensions 33 l and 34 forcooperation with diagonal curved braces 35 and 36. These lateralextensions are preferably substantiallyalike, being merel left andright, so that the legs 16 and 1 may lie close together when" folded.This is shown in the upper part of Fig., 1. The braces 35 and 36 arepivotally mounted on the longer sides 20 of the corner members 16 and 17respectively. These braces are preferably of curved outline somewhat as-loosen t e top of the frame.

strap autres.

shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and are arranged to pass through slotsl 37 in the'lateral extensions of the leg straps, the ends 38 and v39 of theseslots vare adapted to engage-the edges of the braces so that the bracesare swung from the position show n in Fig. 2 to the position shown inFig. 3 when the legs are unfolded, the ends 38 and 39 of the slotlocking the brace just as pin 41 enters opening 42. The end 38 of theslot is adapted to rest inside thebend 38 in the brace as shown in Fig.2 and to forcei the brace to the position indicated. The lateralextensions are bent over to provide a Wall 40 which is spaced a shortdistance from the side of the leg and this wall is provided with an upvwardly directed pin 41 to cooperate with an aperture 42 in the brace. Ifdesired, the

'slot 3 7 .may be given such-a configuration that the brace is forcedover the pin, or one may rely on the resiliency of the brace. Theportion 43 of the brace may be pressed by frame so that there is notendency to twist` the stri s of the under-frame olf the top or Theconstruction also provides for attaching the legs of 'the metal legstraps in such a manner thatthe Wooden members do not assume thestresses rnear the pivots. The strap and* corner `member togetherprovide a rigid corner and distribute theload in such a manner thatcomparatively small stresses are placed upon the wooden parts. Since thediagonal brace operates solel between-the metal corthe legs through themetal parts and attaching means, instead of directly through woodenconnections `las is 'customar as the point of attachment of the metal egstrap 1s spaced from the upper end of the leg, there isa minimumtendency to split or injure the leg, furthermore, there is no likelihoodofwarpingof the wooden parts intertering with the'operation of thetable, or

unit made up of the corner member, vthe leg strap and the brace. Thesecorner units may be to a large extent identical, the only differenceashere shown being in the right and left arrangement ofthe leg strap.They. may be made up in factories adaptedfor metal working, assembledcomplete and linished readyfor attaching to the table and legs. Thisoperationcould be carried out in a Wood working 'factory .where thetable would be assembled and finished. The way in which the presenttable may be made provides atable which is much more Ari id than thoseheretofore available, and at t e same time without prohibitive increasein manufacturing cost. Tables which may ,be injured in transit, orotherwise,may be easily repaired.

In the modificationshown in Fig. 4 the leg 44 is provided witha saw-cutor slit at the upper end to accommodate `the leg strap 45. Theleg-strapand leg are bolted tof gether in any convenientmanner,` and the'brace is arranged to cooperate with the extension of the leg strap inthe manner above Y described. l

The constructionfshown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive is similar to thatshown in Figs.. `1 to 3'. According to this form of the invention theU-shaped corner membersl are arranged in pai'rs 50-51. They may be madeout of bent strap metal if desired. As here shown, the longer side v52is fastened by bolts '52. to one side of a member 53 of theunderframe'of the table, while the bottom 54 of the U is fastened bybolts 54 to vthe adjacent side member 55 of the underframe..

A bolt 56 passes through the short side 57 of the'corner member, thelong side 52, and the adjacent piece of the .under-frame. This bolt 56-provides a pivotal mounting for the leg stra 58 which extends down alongthe side o the leg and s fastened to it in any convenient manner. Thebolt 56 and strap 58 may be permanently united as by Welding, rlvets,machine screws, or otherwise, and" in that case the bolt will move backand forth in Ithe metal corner member, or if desired, the strap 58 mayhinged on the bolt or the U member. 4 either case, the bearing pointsare between metal parts.` The leg straps 58 have lateral extensions 59,shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9. ese extensions are provided withslots 59 throu h which 'braces 60 are passed. The upper en s of thesebraces are pivotally supported from the longer side of the cornermembers. In the case of the corner members 51, shown at the left ofFigs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the braces are directly pivoted at 6l to thelonger side 52 of the corner member. In y thecase -of the corner membersshown at the right of Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive and in. 9, the cornermembers are provided with lateral bridging straps `62 and the braces 60are pivoted to these straps. These braces are preferably curved or.oifsetted as indicated in the drawings so that when the legs are foldedthe braces will be moved into the position shown in Fig. 7, withoutlocking in the slot before the legs are parallel with the frame. In thismanner the braces are carried inside the underframe of the table andareheldin this position when the table is -folded. The parts are soarranged that some tension is imposed on the brace, by reason ofitsbeing bent slightly when the leg is opened1 This flexin'g of thebrace causes the lower end 63 ,to snap into place in the slot 59.

The legs are arranged in pairs in the same manner as those shown 1nFig. 1. vThe mountings for the leg straps are so arranged that they maybe folded alongside one another-"as indicated.- The bridging member 62for the bra-ce is carried above..the leg so as not to interfere with thefolding of the table. When the legs are unfolded the brace is `carriedthrough the slot 59, audits lower end 63 drops into the lower part'ofthe slot in the lateral extension59 on the leg strap and thereb .locksthe leg in open position.

Fig. 10 s ows a modified formof the present folding table according towhich the brace 70 is pivoted at 71 to the corner member of the tableand its lower end is notched as shown at 72 to coo erate with ya pin 73carried on the legs of t e table. The upper end of the brace extendsbeyond the pivot and is adapted to engage a projection 74 carried bythecorner member.

The parts are so arranged that the brace is bent slightly 'i lso as tohold the pin in the notch.

Thje modified form of table shown in Fig. 11 may be constructedsubstantially the same` as shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive. In this formthe bolt 80 on which ,the leg strap is mounted, is carriedl directly inthe metal corner members instead of assingthrouh the woodentunderframe.he bolt may Ie t 'held in place in any convenient manner.

will, *of course,be understood that the show-` in of a square table ismerely forpurposes of illustratlon. The invention is adapted for strappivotally carried between the sides of the U, the lower end of the legstrap being slotted, and a brace passing through the slot and pivoted t0one side of the .U-shaped member. l v

2. In a4 folding table, in combination, a

an underframe, a metal member proto vided with a pivotal mounting for alegl strap, a leg attached to the strap, and a brace pivotally mountedon the metal member, said strap extending beyond the side of the leg andbeing slotted, to receive the free end of the brace.

3. In a folding table, a top, an underframe composed of wooden strips, aplurality of pairs of legs, mounting means for each of the legs bf thepair, said mounting means inber having two spaced slides, a wooden leg,

a second metal member fastened to the upper end of the leg and extendingto and contacting with the sides of the corner member and means, forswingingly mounting theextension on the second metal member between thesides of the corner member, the spacing of the sides of the cornermember being suby stantially greater than the 'width of the leg wherebythe bearingpoints ofthe mounting l means are widely'spaced therebyincreasing .the rigiditv of the corner.

5. In a folding table, a top, an underframe composed of wooden strips, ametal corner member fastened to both of the strips of a corner of theunderframe, said corner member havlng two spaced sides, a wooden leg,

a second metal member fastened to the upper end of the leo', and meanscontacting with the spaced sides for swingingly supporting the secondmetal. member and leg between the sides of the corner member, saidsecond member extending along a substantial length of the leg and beingfastened thereto at widely separated points to increase the rigidity ofthe corner.

6. In a folding' table, a top, ,an undercorner member having two spacedsides and fastened to both of the strips of a corner of the underframeso as to reinforce tlesame, a wooden leg, and a metal anchorage for thewooden leg, said anchorage being pivotally carried in the opposed sidesof the corner member and rigidly attached to the wooden leg so thatstresses adjacent the pivot are taken by metal parts.

7. In a folding table, a top, an underframe composed of wooden strips, ametal corner member having two s aced sides and fasvtened to'both ofthestrips of a corner of the underframe-,so as to reinforce the same, awooden leg substantially narrower than the spacing of the `sides of thecorner member, means for pivotally mounting the wooden leg in the cornermember, said mounting means including a metal anchorage attached to theupper end of the leg and extending a 'substantial distance along the legand having pivot portions spaced so as to be adjacent the sides of thecorner member and pivoted thereto, and a brace cooperative with theother end of the anchorage.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, andState of NewYork, this 15th day of October, 1924..

HAROLD Hows.

frame composed of wooden strips, a metal l

